Adjustable cassette for substrates

ABSTRACT

A cassette ( 100 ) for accommodating substrates includes a frame ( 110 ) and supporting members ( 120 ). The frame includes a top shelf ( 111 ) and a bottom shelf ( 112 ), which cooperatively defines a space therebetween. The top and bottom shelves each include at least two adjusting members ( 114 ) with positioning slots ( 115 ). Each of the adjusting members includes a positioning slot and a plurality of keyways ( 116 ) in communication with the positioning slot. The supporting members oppositely disposed in the space, and at least one of them includes a pair of adjusting shafts ( 124 ) movable along the positioning slots and removeably engaging in the selected of the keyways of the adjusting members. With this configuration, it enables easy adjustment of the distance between opposite supporting members. In the adjusting process, no part need be detached from the cassette.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cassette for storing or transportinga plurality of substrates, particularly substrates such as liquidcrystal panels.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, various kinds of substrates (e.g., glass substrates) are usedfor the manufacturing of LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), plasmadisplays, and hybrid ICs (Integrated Circuits). In various parts of themass manufacturing chain, these substrates are loaded into a substratecassette for storage or transportation. The substrate cassette canconveniently hold a plurality of the substrates, and has been widelyused for carrying the substrates from one fabrication shop floor toanother.

A conventional substrate cassette is shown in FIG. 5. The cassette 10includes a top frame 11, a bottom frame 12, and two side plates 13interconnecting the top and bottom frames 11, 12. The side plates 13include parallel supporting ledges 131 protruding inwardly therefromrespectively. The top frame 11, the bottom frame 12 and the side plates13 cooperatively form a space 16, for accommodating substrates insertedalong the supporting ledges 131. The cassette 10 also includes aplurality of vertical stopper rods 15 for retaining the substratestherein.

However, any one manufacturer may have to deal with variously sizedsubstrates used for making different products. When differently sizedsubstrates need to be stored or transported, a new cassette for eachsize of substrate is needed. This increases the costs of storage andtransportation.

Thus another kind of substrate cassette has been developed. Referring toFIG. 6, a cassette 20 for holding and transporting substrates of varyingsizes is shown. The cassette 20 includes a top frame 21, a bottom frame22, a side frame 27, a fixed side plate 23, and a moveable side plate24. The side plates 23, 24 include parallel supporting ledges 231protruding inwardly therefrom respectively. The top and bottom frames21, 22, and the side plates 23, 24 cooperatively form a space 26 toaccommodate substrates therein. The top frame 21 has two parallelgrooves 211, and the bottom frame 22 has two corresponding parallelgrooves 221. The moveable side plate 24 can be slid along the grooves211, 221 in order to adapt to new differently sized substrates. Themoveable side plate 24 is fixed in a desired position by screws 29.

The cassette 20 can adjust the size of the space 26 in order to adapt tovariations in sizes of the substrates, by moving the moveable side plate24 along the frames 21, 22 and fixing the moveable side plate 24 in itsnew position. However, to adjust the cassette 20, a tool such as ascrewdriver is needed to unfasten and refasten the screws 29. Inaddition, the moveable side plate 24 must be disengaged and thenreengaged each time an adjustment is needed. The required disengagementand reengagement can be troublesome and time-consuming. Moreover, theunfastened screws 29 are liable to be lost.

Accordingly, what is needed is an adjustable cassette that can overcomethe above-described deficiencies.

SUMMARY

An exemplary cassette for accommodating substrates includes a frame andsupporting members. The frame includes a top shelf and a bottom shelf,which cooperatively defines a space therebetween. The top and bottomshelves each include at least two adjusting members with positioningslots. Each of the adjusting members includes a positioning slot and aplurality of keyways in communication with the positioning slot. Thesupporting members oppositely disposed in the space, and at least one ofthem includes a pair of adjusting shafts movable along the positioningslots and removeably engaging in the selected of the keyways of theadjusting members.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view of a cassette according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded view of two supporting members of thecassette of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing two adjusting shafts of one ofthe supporting members disengaged from corresponding keyways of fouradjusting members of the cassette.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic, isometric view of a conventional cassette.

FIG. 6 is a schematic, isometric view of another conventional cassette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the presentinvention in detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic, isometric view of a cassette accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Thecassette 100 is for holding and transporting substrates, and includes aframe 110 and two supporting members 120.

The frame 110 includes a top shelf 111, a bottom shelf 112, and aplurality of supporting rods 113 interconnecting the top and bottomshelves 111, 112. The top shelf 111, the bottom shelf 112 and thesupporting rods 113 cooperatively define a space (not labeled). The topand bottom shelves 111, 112 include four corresponding adjusting members114, respectively. Each of the adjusting members 114 includes alongitudinal positioning slot 115, and a plurality of keyways 116perpendicularly disposed at opposite sides of the positioning slot 115respectively.

The top and bottom shelves 111, 112, the supporting rods 113, and theadjusting members 114 may be made of aluminum, stainless steel or othermetallic materials. For reducing the weight of the cassette 100, theframe 110 may be made of carbon fiber resin.

Also referring to FIG. 2, an enlarged, exploded view of the supportingmembers 120 is shown. The supporting members 120 are parallel to eachother. Each supporting member 120 includes a top connecting bar 121, abottom connecting bar 122, a plurality of supporting bodies 123, and aplurality of adjusting shafts 124. In the illustrated embodiment, eachsupporting member 120 has two adjusting shafts 124. The top and bottomconnecting bars 121, 122 include corresponding guiding slots 125 and 225respectively, for movably receiving top and bottom ends 1241, 1244 ofthe adjusting shafts 124 respectively. The supporting bodies 123 and theadjusting shafts 124 are arranged between the top and bottom connectingbars 121, 122. Each of the supporting bodies 123 includes a plurality ofsupporting ribs 1231 arranged one above the other. Each supporting rib1231 may be used for supporting a side portion of a substrate containedin the cassette 100.

Each of the adjusting shafts 124 includes a top end 1241, a discordscrew cap 1242, a coil spring 1243, and a bottom end 1244. The top end1241 has an outer screw thread (not visible) at a topmost portionthereof, and the screw cap 1242 has an inner screw thread (not visible).The outer screw thread of the top end 1241 mates with the inner screwthread of the screw cap 1242, so that the screw cap 1242 may bethreadingly fastened to the top end 1241. The coil spring 1243 islocated between the screw cap 1242 and an annular shoulder of theadjusting shaft 124 where the top end 1241 adjoins a main body of theadjusting shaft 124.

Referring to FIG. 3, in assembly, the two supporting members 120 aredisposed in the space of the cassette 100 symmetrically opposite to eachother, with the supporting ribs 1231 thereof facing inwardly toward eachother. The guiding slots 125, 225 of the connecting bars 121, 122 arealigned with the corresponding positioning slots 115 of the adjustingmembers 114 of the top and bottom shelves 111, 112 respectively. A coilspring 1243 is placed around the top end 1241 of each adjusting shaft124. The top end 1241 of the adjusting shaft 124 is extended through thecorresponding guiding slot 125 and the positioning slot 115 of thecorresponding upper adjusting member 114, and is then engaged with thecorresponding screw cap 1242. In this position, the coil spring 1243 iscompressed between the shoulder of the adjusting shaft 124 and anunderside of the corresponding top connecting bar 121, and the bottomend 1244 of the adjusting shaft 124 is located in the correspondingguiding slot 225 and the positioning slot 115 of the corresponding loweradjusting member 114. Then the adjusting shaft 124 is moved horizontallyalong a desired pair of upper and lower keyways 116 until it reachesenlarged blind ends of the keyways 116 (see below). The adjusting shaft124 is then released. Thereby, the coil spring 1243 decompresses, thetop end 1241 with the screw cap 1242 is engaged in the selected upperkeyway 116, and the bottom end 1244 is engaged in the selected lowerkeyway 116.

In use, when the size of a substrate is larger or smaller than thedistance between the two opposite supporting members 120, the cassette100 can be adjusted to fit the substrate. Commonly, only one of the twosupporting members 120 needs to be repositioned, which is performed asfollows. The adjusting shafts 124 of the supporting member 120 to beadjusted are lifted slightly, so that the top ends 1241 of the adjustingshafts 124 are disengaged from the corresponding keyways 116 andslidable along the positioning slots 115. At this time, the coil springs1243 are compressed. The supporting member 120 is slid along the upperand lower adjusting members 114 until the distance between thesupporting members 120 corresponds to the size of the substrate. Theadjusting shafts 124 are moved to positions above the desired upper andlower keyways 116, and are then released. Thereby, the coil springs 1243decompress, the top ends 1241 with the screw caps 1242 are engaged inthe selected upper keyways 116, and the bottom ends 1244 are engaged inthe selected lower keyways 116.

Referring to FIG. 4, this shows details of the configurations of theupper keyways 116. The wall around each keyway 116 includes a horizontalstep (not labeled) between a vertical upper wall 1161 and a verticallower wall 1162. The enlarged blind end of the keyway 116 is generallycircular, and a diameter defined by the upper wall 1161 thereat islarger than a diameter defined by the lower wall 1162 thereat. Thediameter defined by the upper wall 1161 is slightly larger than adiameter of the corresponding screw cap 1142, and the diameter definedby the lower wall 1162 is smaller than the diameter of the screw cap1142. Thereby, the screw cap 1142 can be properly positioned and held inthe enlarged blind end of the keyway 116 without moving too far down.

In summary, the cassette 100 provides the above-described sliding andfixing means, which essentially include the adjusting shafts 124 withthe screw caps 1242 and coil springs 1243, and adjusting members 114with the positioning slots 115 and keyways 116. The sliding and fixingmeans provide easy adjustment of the distance between the two oppositesupporting members 120. In the adjusting process, no part need bedetached from the cassette 100. The risk of misplacing loose parts iseliminated, and the adjusting process is simple and speedy.

Various modifications and alterations are possible in addition to theambit of the disclosure herein. For example, only one supporting member120 may be provided, with another corresponding supporting member simplybeing fixed in the frame 110. In another example, one of two supportingmembers 120 may be fixed in the frame 110, with only the othersupporting member 120 being movable. In each of these examples, when thesize of a substrate is larger or smaller than the distance between thetwo opposite supporting members, the movable supporting member 120 canbe adjusted so that the substrate fits in the cassette. In otherembodiments, each pair of aligned adjusting members 114 may beconsolidated into a single elongated adjusting member. In still otherembodiments, the supporting bodies 123 of each supporting member 120 maybe consolidated into a single supporting body.

It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristicsand advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in theforegoing description, together with details of the structures andfunctions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, andchanges may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the fullextent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which theappended claims are expressed.

1. A cassette for accommodating substrates, comprising: a framecomprising a top shelf and a bottom shelf, the top and bottom shelvescooperatively defining a space therebetween, the top and bottom shelveseach comprising at least two adjusting members, each of the adjustingmembers comprising a positioning slot and a plurality of keyways incommunication with the positioning slot; and a pair of supportingmembers oppositely disposed in the space, at least one of the supportingmembers comprising a pair of adjusting shafts movable along thepositioning slots and removeably engaging in selected of the keyways ofthe adjusting members.
 2. The cassette as claimed in claim 1, whereinboth supporting members comprise a pair of adjusting shafts.
 3. Thecassette as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting members aredisposed in the space symmetrically opposite to each other, each of thesupporting members further comprises a plurality of supporting ribs, andthe supporting ribs of each supporting member extend inwardly toward thesupporting ribs of the other supporting member.
 4. The cassette asclaimed in claim 1, wherein in each of the adjusting members, thekeyways are disposed at opposite sides of the positioning slot,respectively.
 5. The cassette as claimed in claim 4, wherein in each ofthe adjusting members of the top shelf, each of the keyways has a stepdefined between an upper wall and a lower wall.
 6. The cassette asclaimed in claim 5, wherein, a blind end of each of the keyways isgenerally circular, and a diameter defined the upper wall at the blindend is larger than a diameter defined by the lower wall at the blindend.
 7. The cassette as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least onesupporting member further comprises a top connecting bar and a bottomconnecting bar, and each of the top and bottom connecting bars comprisesa pair of guiding slots respectively receiving corresponding ends of theadjusting shafts.
 8. The cassette as claimed in claim 7, wherein each ofthe adjusting shafts comprises a top end with an outer screw thread at atopmost portion thereof, and the top end extends through thecorresponding guiding slot of the top connecting bar and is at leastpartially located in the positioning slot or the selected keyway of thecorresponding adjusting member.
 9. The cassette as claimed in claim 8,wherein each of the adjusting shafts further comprises a screw cap withan inner screw thread mating with the outer screw thread of the top end,whereby the screw cap is engaged with the top end.
 10. The cassette asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the screw cap is engaged in thecorresponding selected keyway.
 11. The cassette as claimed in claim 10,wherein each of the adjusting shafts further comprises a coil springlocated between a shoulder at the top end of the adjusting shaft and abottom of the corresponding adjusting member.
 12. The cassette asclaimed in claim 11, wherein each of the adjusting shafts furthercomprises a bottom end, and the bottom end extends through thecorresponding guiding slot of the bottom connecting bar and is at leastpartially located in the positioning slot or the selected keyway of thecorresponding adjusting member.
 13. The cassette as claimed in claim 12,wherein the at least one supporting member further comprises at leastone supporting body, and the at least one supporting body comprises aplurality of supporting ribs vertically arranged one above the other.14. The cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame furthercomprises a plurality of supporting rods interconnecting the top andbottom shelves.
 15. A cassette for accommodating substrates, comprising:a frame comprising a top shelf and a bottom shelf, the top and bottomshelves cooperatively defining a space therebetween, at least one of thetop and bottom shelves comprising at least one adjusting member, theadjusting member comprising a positioning slot and a plurality ofkeyways in communication with the positioning slot; and a pair ofsupporting members oppositely disposed in the space, at least one of thesupporting members comprising at least one adjusting shaft movable alongthe positioning slot and removeably engaging in selected one of thekeyways of the adjusting member.